Oh dear, trust me to put my big foot in it. Without wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, I'm not sure how well an elderly body would withstand a hard fall. Whether we like it or not, our bones and muscle tissue change from when we were young and certainly can't take the sort of hammering we expected them to withstand in the old days. But you are correct. It is a personal decision as to whether or not one races at an advanced age, and personally, I wouldn't want that to change.

Oh dear, trust me to put my big foot in it. Without wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, I'm not sure how well an elderly body would withstand a hard fall. Whether we like it or not, our bones and muscle tissue change from when we were young and certainly can't take the sort of hammering we expected them to withstand in the old days. But you are correct. It is a personal decision as to whether or not one races at an advanced age, and personally, I wouldn't want that to change.

Multiple TT winner from the 20’s/30’s, Charlie Dodson, was another example, Sarge. Charlie stepped off his period Sunbeam after being invited to give a demo at Brands in what must have been around 1980 ish. Apparently he was enjoying himself so much he stayed out there – helmetless, say some reports – despite calls from worried officials asking him to come in. The old Sunbeam star later died in hospital. I think he retired in the mid thirties and would guess his age at about eighty when he died.

Oh dear, trust me to put my big foot in it. Without wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, I'm not sure how well an elderly body would withstand a hard fall. Whether we like it or not, our bones and muscle tissue change from when we were young and certainly can't take the sort of hammering we expected them to withstand in the old days. But you are correct. It is a personal decision as to whether or not one races at an advanced age, and personally, I wouldn't want that to change.

It's not only in competition either. I was in the Past Masters parade at the 1000 bikes when Tommy Robb took a tumble at the Esses and really knocked himself about. It brought home to me that we don't bounce as well as we did. Mind you several fractures and a punctured lung aint good at any age.

Multiple TT winner from the 20’s/30’s, Charlie Dodson, was another example, Sarge. Charlie stepped off his period Sunbeam after being invited to give a demo at Brands in what must have been around 1980 ish. Apparently he was enjoying himself so much he stayed out there – helmetless, say some reports – despite calls from worried officials asking him to come in. The old Sunbeam star later died in hospital. I think he retired in the mid thirties and would guess his age at about eighty when he died.

This is listed as being a Charlie Dodson TT bike from the late twenties.

Oh dear, trust me to put my big foot in it. Without wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, I'm not sure how well an elderly body would withstand a hard fall. Whether we like it or not, our bones and muscle tissue change from when we were young and certainly can't take the sort of hammering we expected them to withstand in the old days. But you are correct. It is a personal decision as to whether or not one races at an advanced age, and personally, I wouldn't want that to change.

One of the reasons I was never tempted back for another go, I remember more than once in my 20's being up and out for work at 0630 despite being lobbed up the road at 90mph the day before, and shuffling around wincing in pain all day as a result, but I knew that even in my late 30's I wouldnt have been able to do that anymore.

But for those who wish to continue it should be up to themselves and whoever is signing their medical form to make that decision.

#11 is me on my 400 Husqvarna, in an all-Husky race at the Wandering vintage motocross a couple of years back. The bloke beside me on #16 is Bill Watson, aged 83 then, and he outdragged me to turn 1 ! As you can see in the lower shot, from the long, low jump in the back straight at Narrogin, he still gets stuck in : these days he doesn't ride grade racing, sticks to the over-55s, and has won multiple over-60s national titles. Started roadracing on a Goldie in the 1940s and has never stopped, must be fast approaching 85. Bill has never smoked or drank, has been racing Huskies since the 1960s and has 16 of them under his house, and what's worst is when he's working on an engine in his workshop, doesn't need glasses : the swine !

Russel, I think the chap at the back is Hugh Anderson, at what looks like Glencrutchery road. If so, he rode a Norton in the 1960 and 1961 senior races.

Yep definately the start line, and literally just up the road from me, that house just visible in the left of shot was empty for years but now looks to have been renovated and re-occupied, perfect spot.

Yep definately the start line, and literally just up the road from me, that house just visible in the left of shot was empty for years but now looks to have been renovated and re-occupied, perfect spot.

Yes I think so Russell, then it must have become un-occupied once the cemetery became maintained centrally from town, I think its occupied again now.

I remember when I used to sit up there on the road warming up a TZ350 at 5am in the morning along with about 60 other people doing the same and I used to look over at that house with curtains drawn tightly and think poor buggers where else in the world would anyone put up with this

Me too. Looks like Gary Hocking talking to Mika Hakkinen's father. LOL. Is that the MV in the foreground?

Yes, Gary in what must be '61 with the 'Privat' MV. I also immediately thought he was talking to a Hakkinen. Interesting vans too. Not everything across the western world back then had to look the same as everywhere else.

Yes, Gary in what must be '61 with the 'Privat' MV. I also immediately thought he was talking to a Hakkinen. Interesting vans too. Not everything across the western world back then had to look the same as everywhere else.

Pretty sure it's Hockenheim, 'Magura' was famous then for their handlebars and levers in Germany

I agree Renn. Almost sure it's Hockenheim. I am open to correction, but I'm not sure if the track in Imatra existed at that time. Magura are still involved in the motorsport scene, although more in motocross now I think. KTM fit their hydraulic clutch unit to their machines and their bars are probably the best in the business. They are also big in the bicycle side of things.

Blond chap looks more like he could be Mika Salo's dad than Mika Hakkinen's to me !!

Did Magura supply parts to the GP teams in which case they would have had a presence regardless of the circuit ? On that basis and continuing the Finnish connection, I wonder if this is Tampere 1962 rather than Hockenheim

Yes, I agree with Biil. Jim Redman, and while I can't name the mechanic on the right of the machine changing the plugs, the guy on the left helping him, with the yamaha cap, is the Yamaha importer in South Africa, or at least he was then, Charlie Young. I had the pleasure of meeting him one year when I came over to SA for one of the TT's.That pic looks like it was taken in about 1968/69. If I recall correctly, I read somewhere that Jim had a few outings on an RD56 which was sent over to SA at the time. Track looks like Roy Heskith in Petermaritzberg.

Yes, I agree with Biil. Jim Redman, and while I can't name the mechanic on the right of the machine changing the plugs, the guy on the left helping him, with the yamaha cap, is the Yamaha importer in South Africa, or at least he was then, Charlie Young. I had the pleasure of meeting him one year when I came over to SA for one of the TT's.That pic looks like it was taken in about 1968/69. If I recall correctly, I read somewhere that Jim had a few outings on an RD56 which was sent over to SA at the time. Track looks like Roy Heskith in Petermaritzberg.

I reckon its Redman as well, he raced Hailwood and his six a couple of times as I recall from his book.

I reckon its Redman as well, he raced Hailwood and his six a couple of times as I recall from his book.

Hi All,Well it did not take very long all answers correct, from my information it is Redman on the RD56 Yamaha supplied by Charlie Young the Yamaha importer for SA, that is Charlie Young changing the plugs, the venue is the wonderfull Roy Hesketh circuit in Pietermaritzburg and the year is 1968.The best Yamaha had at this time was the TD1C and so to get an exworks RD56 obviously needed a few strings pulled but having Redman as the rider certainly helps, I seem to recall that maybe one of the local racers also had a ride on the RD56 maybe it was Tommy Johns.

Hi All,Well it did not take very long all answers correct, from my information it is Redman on the RD56 Yamaha supplied by Charlie Young the Yamaha importer for SA, that is Charlie Young changing the plugs, the venue is the wonderfull Roy Hesketh circuit in Pietermaritzburg and the year is 1968.The best Yamaha had at this time was the TD1C and so to get an exworks RD56 obviously needed a few strings pulled but having Redman as the rider certainly helps, I seem to recall that maybe one of the local racers also had a ride on the RD56 maybe it was Tommy Johns.

cheersPete

Thanks for that Pete. When I heard Jim was racing in SA on a RD56, which was Yamaha's works machine at the time, I wondered why a 6 times world champ would want to beat up on the local opposition, who quite obviously were all really a bunch of hobby racers on machinery that was vastly inferior. One would have thought his ego would have been satisfied with what he had already achieved. Obviously not.

Thanks for that Pete. When I heard Jim was racing in SA on a RD56, which was Yamaha's works machine at the time, I wondered why a 6 times world champ would want to beat up on the local opposition, who quite obviously were all really a bunch of hobby racers on machinery that was vastly inferior. One would have thought his ego would have been satisfied with what he had already achieved. Obviously not.

As I remember it Redman opened a motorcycle shop and couldnt get a Honda agency so got a Yamaha one .I supose the spectators would have been happy to see a works bike at their meetings .We used to go to see the MV and Honda works bikes at UK meetings .Bill Lawrence

As I remember it Redman opened a motorcycle shop and couldnt get a Honda agency so got a Yamaha one .I supose the spectators would have been happy to see a works bike at their meetings .We used to go to see the MV and Honda works bikes at UK meetings .Bill Lawrence

As I remember it Redman opened a motorcycle shop and couldnt get a Honda agency so got a Yamaha one .I supose the spectators would have been happy to see a works bike at their meetings .We used to go to see the MV and Honda works bikes at UK meetings .Bill Lawrence

Quite Bill, only, I think it's fair to say, it would have been a wonderful opportunity for Jim, who is a lovely fellow I might add, to support an up and coming South African. There were a couple of really good young 'uns as well, as that would have been about the time Kork Ballington and John Ekerold were cutting their teeth. Anyway, it was what it was, and I'm sure the spectators loved watching Jim do his thing.

Quite Bill, only, I think it's fair to say, it would have been a wonderful opportunity for Jim, who is a lovely fellow I might add, to support an up and coming South African. There were a couple of really good young 'uns as well, as that would have been about the time Kork Ballington and John Ekerold were cutting their teeth. Anyway, it was what it was, and I'm sure the spectators loved watching Jim do his thing.

Yes true Sarge They did have quite a few top riders at the time .By the way didnt Redman give a leg up to his brother in law Bruce Beale in to the Honda team ? a lot better riders around at the time I think .Bill Lawrence

Yes true Sarge They did have quite a few top riders at the time .By the way didnt Redman give a leg up to his brother in law Bruce Beale in to the Honda team ? a lot better riders around at the time I think .Bill Lawrence

Ah, the role of politics, perhaps nepotism too, might generate a lively discussion. I didn't know Beale was his brother in law?

Yes true Sarge They did have quite a few top riders at the time .By the way didnt Redman give a leg up to his brother in law Bruce Beale in to the Honda team ? a lot better riders around at the time I think .Bill Lawrence

Not sure about Beale, Bill, although he was certainly, like Jim, also from Rhodesia.